The Jews of Lebanon Project

Report: Bahrain to name Jewish ambassador to US

Bahrain will name a Jewish ambassador to the United States, a report said. Huda Azar Nunu, a Jewish woman who is a lawmaker in Bahrain’s upper house, will be named to the Washington position, according to a report this week in A Sharq al-Awsat, a Saudi-owned pan-Arab daily published in London.

The sources denied that the appointment of Nunu as a woman and a Jew is a public relations campaign by Bahrain in the West, emphasizing that Huda Nunu has proven her qualifications, whether through her membership in the Consultative Council or through her work in human rights associations, of which she is an active participant in Bahrain; the newspaper said.

Bahrain, a Persian Gulf state sandwiched between Iran and Saudi Arabia, has a tiny Jewish population dating back to Talmudic times. Nunu is descended from Iraqi Jews who migrated to the port of Manama in the late 19th century. Jews in Bahrain have kept a low profile but generally have been treated well.

The nation is considered among the more progressive in the region, and was among the first to allow women to run for public office.

The Lebanese pride themselves as being the most progressive, open-minded, and liberal country in the Middle East. We live in nostalgia for golden age of “The Paris of the Middle East” yet we’re so naïve, we still believe we’re better than everyone in the world. The Lebanese today are too proud to clean their own streets; to proud to clean their own homes so we hire cheap labor from neighboring countries all the way to Sri Lanka and the Philippines.

We must openly study our history and acknowledge the reality of today if we are to build a country for tomorrow. Who would have thought Bahrain would delegate a Jewish citizen as their ambassador to the United States when it was Lebanon, and only Lebanon, whose Jewish population increased post-1948. Today in Lebanon Jews are forced to live in secrecy and all the way in the Arab Gulf they are securing diplomatic positions.

We must break the shell we’re living in; we must reinvent ourselves and break free of the cheap political and sectarian rhetoric paraded around the streets of our country by the very people who destroyed Lebanon. We must remove the conceit and the delusional image we have of ourselves. Are we to trust those who killed our children and destroyed our country in the past with the keys to the future? Those “uncivilized non-Lebanese” we ridicule and make fun of are now reminding us better than ever before, where Lebanon was and where Lebanon is today…

It is Easter Monday, and the weather is so beautiful, it hurts to stay inside! I am resolved to find where the synagogue is - come rain or come more of this blissful sunshine!! Better hurry, Old Saida won’t stay the same for long, massive restoration work is taking place inside the old souqs.

It is not hard to get into the old Jewish Neighborhood of Saida. From Falafel Ikkawi Shop, walk straight, go right for 100 meters, then through the low entrance of St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, most probably the oldest church in the world, you walk through the carpenters’ alley, and left, the arches that lead you inside the Jewish Neighborhood. I ask about the synagogue and two elderly Sidonians point it out, but they hush their voices when they say, but it’s closed. I say, “Closed?” and they clarify, “there are refugee families who live there, and it is in bad shape, there is nobody taking care of it anymore”. I make sure they see the camera, and to introduce myself - nonetheless, the same smile, and the same “Ahlan, Ahlan” you get whether you are a native Sidonians or a Martian!! So much for prudence! The residents of the alley are very friendly, and the children (age 3-7) are overly friendly you can easily mistake them for street muggers, they’re all over “Ammo” (Uncle, and that would be me), and I had to buy my way through by taking their photos, individually and in groups. The little beasts with colored balls would only set me free after I swore I will bring them back the photo-prints.

Another inquiry and a very nice man lead me to the door of the synagogue, and left me there, unsure of what to do! I though he must be kidding me, then a quick reality check, this is not the Temple of Solomon; this is a small place of worship. Another divine miracle, the next door neighbor of the synagogue shows up, and I ask him, is there a man in the house? Negative; I took a photo of the door, broken hearted, I turned away. Something told me, Ask, Ask, and I say – “It is not proper for me to barge into people’s homes (alone.. that is…), can you please ask them if they mind me going in and clicking two photos, and then I’ll be gone?” – That was it, one knock at the door, and the most beautiful child I have ever seen opens the door, followed by her mum. “Tfadal” – meaning “Do us honor” – and I’m in. Sandals have to be taken off at the door. Spotless white marble floor, and arches and a dome in fading blue, crumbling walls, are drenched in humidity. The neighbor points out the Stars of David and the wooden panels. Needless to say, the family living in the synagogue is way below poverty line.

The woman asks: “but what good are these photos?” - I asked her “do you know what this place used to be?” – She does. I told her, “let us show those who left it that it is still there, and that it is still theirs, awaiting their return, and that we are not barbarians. Take care of this place, for it is still a house of God.” One would expect a refugee woman living in a crumbling synagogue with a sick child and 2 infants to be ignorant, but she gave me the knowing proud nod, of “Yes we shall.” I walk out proudly; it is still a house of God, a roof, though wet, for little proud angels.

On the other side of Sidon, not very far from the Land Castle, is the Shrine of Prophet Sidon. I found an old man in the distance under a tree - I was contemplating how to jump of the wall and how I would land into the huge bush of tall grass, praying that snakes are not irritated, I was in shorts and sandals. The man yells, pointing me to a hidden path. I ask him about the story of this place, and he says, “everyone claims this to be their own, Muslims say this is a shrine of Prophet Sidon, and Jews say it is for the Brother of Prophet Joseph (Youssef) Son of Jacob - regardless, we share the same prophets, and this is still a holy place, but for some reason, it has more significance for the Jews - when they lived in Sidon - than for us now. Why? I don’t know.”

The eloquence is not my own, I give you my word; I am only responsible for the translation.

I did my reporter’s duty, and clicked a few photos, mercifully, the snakes were kinder than the kids of the neighbourhood, and they let me be.

I would like to seek feedback from our Sidonian Jewish Compatriots, what is the significance of this place?

Fadi

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Al Jazeera’s reportage on Wadi Abu Jmil and Lebanon’s Jewish community. Whether some call it modernization or a cultural genocide by the government, Beirut is quickly losing it’s identity at the expense of the materialistic ambitions of government leaders and foreign investors. Regardless of intent, what’s certain is that Beirut is losing it’s identity. Wadi Abu Jmil is an integral part of our cultural history and architectural identity, Lebanon’s Jewish community is a pillar and the strongest testament of the country’s multi-cultural and pluralistic identity. Included in the reportage are interviews with members of the community and pictures of the redevelopment plans for the Magen Avraham Synagogue, which is in the heart of Wadi Abu Jmil, Beirut’s historic Jewish district.

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ماذا يجري في وادي أبو جميل؟

جوان فرشخ بجالي
خلال الحرب، ربح وادي أبو جميل تسميات كثيرة، وخسر سكّانه. ثمّ خسر هويته حينما بدأت ورشة إعادة الإعمار بهدم أبنيته قبل أسابيع. وهو اليوم قد يخسر الآثار التي كانت دفينة في أرضه، وكذلك آخر شاهد على هويّته: كنيس ماغن أبراهام.
فقد قامت شركة «سوليدير» في الأسابيع الأخيرة بهدم كل المباني المحيطة بالكنيس، والتي كانت تكوّن الهويّة الهندسيّة للمنطقة، ولم يبقَ من الوادي إلا اسمه. لكنّ عمليّة الهدم هذه تأتي، وفق مفردات «سوليدير»، ضمن إطار «المحافظة على الطابع الهندسي التقليدي». ذلك أنّ الشركة ستستبدل المباني التي هدمتها بمبانٍ أخرى «تشبهها»، وتحمل، من حيث المبدأ، الطابع الهندسي نفسه. الفارق الوحيد هو أنّ اسم المنطقة سيتحوّل من «وادي أبو جميل» إلى «وادي ريزيدانس»!
وكانت «سوليدير» قد استبدلت في الفترة الأخيرة طريقة بيعها للعقارات في منطقة وسط بيروت. وبات المستثمرون الجدد لا يشترون العقار وحسب، بل المشروع ككلّ. فلسوليدير خرائط لكل منطقة مزوّدة بأشكال الأبنية وحتى بخرائطها، وما على الراغب في الشراء إلا دفع المبالغ والشركة العقارية توفّر له المقاولين والمتعهّدين الذين ينجزون الأعمال بسرعة خيالية، فيما يتولّى علماء الآثار تنقيب قطعة الأرض، وإخلاءها من الآثار، مهما بلغت أهميتها.
وحتى الآن، لم تجد الشركة أي صعوبة في «إخلاء» المواقع الأثرية… فقد أزيلت آثار أكثر من مئة وخمسين حفرية. وتأتي ورشة إعمار وادي أبو جميل اليوم تحدّياً إضافياً في وجه وزارة الثقافة والمديرية العامة للآثار. ففي العقار الممتد الى غربي الكنيس اليهودي، عثر الفريق العلمي الذي يعمل تحت إشراف المديرية العامة للآثار على ميدان سباق الخيل الروماني الذي يمتد لأكثر من 90 متراً ويحافظ على الحائط الفاصل الذي كان يدور حوله المتبارون والمدرجات التي ترتفع الى أكثر من مترين. ويحافظ هذا المعلم التاريخي على كل عناصره الهندسية، ما يسمح بترميمه والمحافظة عليه. ولكن ذلك يتطلب قراراً وزارياً وتصنيفاً للموقع من المديرية العامة للآثار، كما يجبر شركة سوليدير على تغيير مخططها وتحويل الموقع الى متحف في الهواء الطلق. وذلك بالطبع، وكالعادة، لا تعتبره من واجباتها. ولكن، هل تصنّف الموقع المديرية العامة للآثار؟ الرد يأتي من أحد المسؤولين فيها بأن «الإدارة تنتظر انتهاء الحفريات وتقديم التقرير في نهاية الشهر الجاري».
وفي انتظار التقرير والقرار، تبقى ورش البناء جارية على قدم وساق في أرجاء الوادي. فتدمير الأبنية القديمة وجرف الآثار الرومانية من أرضه وترك الكنيس اليهودي في مهب الريح إنما يقود الى الطريق نفسها: بناء مدينة غريبة عن تاريخها الحديث وذاكرتها الجماعية… بناء عاصمة لغير أهلها.
لم يبقَ من الوادي اليوم إلا الكنيس الذي تؤكّد شركة «سوليدير» أنها لن تهدمه، لأنه من «أبنية بيروت الدينيّة»، ولكنها ترمي بمسؤولية ترميمه على عاتق الوقف اليهودي، أي إنها تترك تلك المهمة للزمن… فالوقف اليهودي غير موجود على الأراضي اللبنانية، وأملاك اللبنانيين اليهود يديرها مكتب محاماة في لندن لا يتجاوب إلا مع القضايا التي تطرق بابه، أي حينما تتوجه إليه السلطات الرسمية بطلبات محددة. الجدير بالذكر أنّ جدران المبنى شديدة التصدّع من جراء القصف خلال الحرب الأهلية والإهمال الذي طاله من بعدها، ما يعني أنّ التأخير في عملية التعزيز والدعم، سيعرّض الكنيس للانهيار الحتمي.
وكنيس ماغن أبراهام بني في أوائل القرن الماضي ويعد من أهم وأكبر الكنُس اليهودية في الشرق الأوسط. وفي غياب ممثلين رسميين عن الوقف اليهودي، تتحول مسألة المحافظة على الصرح التاريخي الى قضية سياسية تطلب قراراً واضحاً بالمحافظة. «فبغياب أصحاب القرار الرسميين تقع مسؤولية المحافظة على المبنى على عاتق شركة سوليدير التي تدير مشروع وسط بيروت ووزارة الثقافة والمديرية العامة للآثار»، كما يؤكّد محامٍ مطّلع على قانون الآثار. حتى إنه يؤكد أن الحل بسيط، فيكفي أن توفّر إحدى الجهتين الأموال اللازمة لضمان بقاء المبنى وإزالة خطر هدمه (أي تعزيز جدرانه كي لا تنهار) ومن ثم يُدرج على لائحة الجرد العام في المديرية العامة للآثار فتصرف الأموال الضرورية لترميمه وإعادته الى سابق عهده، مثل أي مبنى تاريخي آخر.
ولكنّ خطوة كهذه تدخل في سياق المحافظة على الإرث الثقافي والمعماري، وهو ما لا يجري اليوم في وادي أبو جميل الذي هو في طور التحول الى «منتجع سكني» فاخر لن يدخله إلا أصحاب الأموال الضخمة. حتى إن اسمه قد يمحى من الذاكرة الجماعية، ولن يبقى ما يخبر عن تاريخه الحديث إلا الكنيس اليهودي الذي سيتحول مع الوقت الى منطقة خراب تنهار شيئاً فشيئاً.

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سوليدير” نفت ما تردد عن هدم مبنى الكنيس اليهودي في وادي ابو جميل: نحرص على أن يبقى قلب العاصمة رمزا لتلاقي اللبنانيين من مختلف الاديان

وطنية - 8/4/2008 (متفرقات) اعلنت شركة “سوليدير” في بيان اليوم ان “الخبر الذي يتردد مؤخرا في بعض وسائل الاعلام عن موضوع هدم مبنى الكنيس اليهودي ماغن ابراهيم الواقع في منطقة وادي ابو جميل - وسط بيروت من ضمن مباني أخرى هو خبر عار تماما عن الصحة وليس له اي اساس. .ومن المستغرب جدا ان يصدر مثل ذلك الخبر المختلق علما أن شركة “سوليدير” كانت قد أوضحت مؤخرا هذا الأمر وأكدت أن الكنيس اليهودي سوف يرمم من قبل القيمين على الطائفة اليهودية من اللبنانيين المقيمين في لبنان، الذين يمكنهم تأكيد صحة هذا الامر، اسوة بسائر المباني الدينية في وسط بيروت التي تم ترميمها من قبل طوائفها المعنية. ويعود لهؤلاء القرار بتوقيت تنفيذ عملية الترميم.كما ان المحافظة على الكنيس اليهودي تدخل في اطار مشروع اعادة اعمار وسط بيروت الذي يتضمن في عناوينه الرئيسية المحافظة على أماكن العبادة لمختلف الطوائف وكذلك على المباني التراثية والمواقع الاثرية.وتؤكد شركة “سوليدير” على أن أحد أهدافها الرئيسية في عملية اعادة احياء وسط مدينة بيروت هو حرصها التام على أن يبقى قلب العاصمة رمزا لتلاقي جميع اللبنانيين من مختلف الاديان والطوائف والمذاهب

Solidere denies rumors about the demolition of the Magen Avraham Jewish Synagogue in Wadi Abu Jmil: “We are keen on keeping the heart of the capital a symbol of union between, and congregation for, all Lebanese from all religious denominations”.

Lebanese National News Agency 8 April, 2008: The Company “Solidere” announced in a statement today that “the news which was reported recently in some of the media on the subject of the demolition of the Maghen Avraham Synagogue located in the Wadi Abu Jamil - downtown Beirut among other buildings is quite a shame, not right and has no basis. “It is very surprising that such a fabricated news story and that the company Solidere had recently explained this matter and confirmed that the Jewish synagogue will be repaired by the leaders of the Jewish community in Lebanon, who can confirm the validity of this, as other religious buildings in downtown Beirut, which have been renovated by their respective communities. In due time, the restorations will be implemented, also that the maintenance of the Jewish synagogue is within the framework of the project rebuilding downtown Beirut, which includes in the main points to maintaining the places of worship of various denominations, as well as the historic buildings and archeological sites. Solidere asserts that one of its major objectives in the process of the revitalization of downtown Beirut is being keen to keep the full heart of the capital a symbol of union for all Lebanese from different religions and sects and creeds.”

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Beirut’s largest synagogue in danger of being demolished
By Yoav Stern, Haaretz Correspondent
April 7, 2008

The largest synagogue in Beirut is in danger of being demolished as part of a city center renovation project.

Lebanese sources involved in preserving Jewish tradition in the country published pictures last month of the desolate synagogue, Magen Avraham, and surrounding buildings.

The photos, which were taken covertly because of the proximity to government offices, show that buildings in the area are in the process of being demolished. The roof of a building next to the synagogue has been dismantled, which some fear is the first stage of that building’s destruction. At this point, the synagogue itself does not appear to have been damaged.

However, the Lebanese sources said that widespread demolition is taking place even though the structures in the area had previously been declared designated for preservation.

The renovation of central Beirut is being carried out by the Lebanese construction company Solidere, in which the Hariri family own shares.

Magen Avraham has been left desolate for about 20 years. The Jewish community, which constitutes one of the 19 official religious communities in Lebanon and at various points included tens of thousands of people, pretty much disappeared from the country in the 1980s.

Sources have told Haaretz that there are still Jews living in Lebanon, but only a few admit their religious identity, fearing they would be harmed if their neighbors discovered they were Jewish.

The community’s silence is a problem when it comes to Jewish communal property. The head of the Jewish community apparently lives abroad, and it is not clear who is in fact running communal affairs.

Solidere has said that it is working to preserve many buildings in the heart of Beirut, including the three buildings surrounding the synagogue. The company said it submitted an opinion to the high council for urbanization saying that the buildings should be preserved, but the council has allowed the landowners to demolish the buildings as long as the original front is reconstructed.

It is not clear whether the synagogue belongs to the Jewish community or has been sold to private owners.